Women passengers in the Capital now need National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) or Pink Saheli smart cards for free travel across both Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses, following the transport department’s September 30 deadline for paper tickets. However, conductors continue to issue paper tickets to passengers who travel without cards, are unaware of the rule, or face persistent card glitches.
Launched in March following its announcement in the previous year’s Delhi budget, the Pink Saheli card replaces the flexible paper-ticket system for women and transgender persons. According to the department, over 70 centres established at bus depots and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) offices citywide have issued cards to over 19 lakh women so far.
Troubles persist
While a large number of women have the cards, many still request free paper tickets, claiming they were unaware of the change or faced issues getting them made. In these instances, conductors continue to issue paper tickets while warning passengers they must pay in the future. The Hindu travelled on different bus routes to assess the usability of the smart cards.
“Regular travellers know the cards are mandatory,” said a conductor on route RL-77. “Those without them offer excuses like leaving them at home or not knowing about the rule. It is mostly short-distance commuters who avoid getting them because the fare is only ₹5. For now, we give them paper tickets but urge them to get the cards.”
Conductors noted they have been informally instructed to allow cardless passengers until October 10 while raising awareness. Strict enforcement will follow.
Glitches and privacy issues
Another reason conductors continue to give away free tickets is the irregular functioning of the smart cards. “Some cards aren’t working,” another conductor on route 723 said. “The handheld machines display ‘check the card’ or ‘check the validity’ upon tapping. We cannot deny free travel in those cases, so we issue paper tickets.” Conductors said they are advising commuters to try their cards on different buses before seeking replacements.
“It is hit-and-miss,” said Lata Kumari, a school teacher who has used her card for a month. “It works on some routes but fails most of the time.”
College student Rachna Sharma questioned the logic of the smart cards and raised privacy issues. “I don’t understand the purpose of a card if they still hand you a paper ticket afterwards. The ticket displays your name, which feels like a safety risk. I don’t have the card yet, but if they malfunction, will I be forced to pay?”
Inclusivity hurdles
The scheme explicitly mandates that only women and transgender residents with a verified Delhi-registered Aadhaar address can access the free bus travel facility.
“They are giving paper tickets for now, but I will have to spend ₹15 per trip once they stop,” said Meenakshi Rathi, a school teacher residing in Noida. “I haven’t updated my Aadhaar card with my temporary Delhi address because it becomes a hassle if we relocate to another rented home in a few years.”
Transgender passengers, too, continue to face issues. “We have tried getting the cards since day one, but depot officials deny us despite the scheme explicitly including transgender persons,” said a transgender woman, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Officials insist it is only for those with ‘women’ printed on their Aadhaar cards and refuse to accept cards listing ‘Transgender’.
Published – October 04, 2026 11:16 pm IST
